N° 19 — Grief and loss
A studio service
Children's book about grief and loss..
When a child loses someone — a grandparent, a pet, sometimes a parent or sibling — they sometimes need a book that helps. A book that doesn't soften, doesn't lecture, but is simply a vessel for the unbearable.
A book cannot heal everything. But it can accompany.
N° 01Why a book can help
Grief needs a place to live.
Children grieve differently than adults. They often lack the words. They grieve in waves — ten minutes of intensity, then laughter, then tears again. They ask the same questions repeatedly because they can't yet file the answers away.
A carefully made grief book gives the child a stable place to return to. It offers language for feelings they couldn't otherwise name. And it says, without saying: "You aren't alone with this feeling. Others feel it too. It is allowed."
The best grief books — Susan Varley's Badger's Parting Gifts, for example — often get read over many years. Not only in the acute phase but repeatedly as the child grows older and understands new layers of loss.
01
Loss of a pet
Often the first experience of death. Custom illustration of the pet itself makes the book a personal keepsake.
02
Loss of a grandparent
The most common experience in this age range. The book can hold specific memories — favorite food, shared places, particular gestures.
03
Loss of a sibling
Especially difficult — and especially important that the book doesn't soften. We always work with a professional on these projects.
04
Loss of a parent
The most traumatic event in childhood. Here the book accompanies for years. Developmental-psychology consultation is essential.
05
Serious illness in the family
Not all grief comes after a death — it sometimes begins before. Books can help children understand the long months of serious illness.
06
General books about death
Not for a specific loss, but as a preparatory conversation. Many families order such a book when a difficult time is approaching.
N° 02How we work
With care, not routine.
This is the one area in our studio where we decline projects when we can't do them well. A grief book can help a great deal — but a poorly made one can also cause harm.
Every book in this category goes through an additional consultation with a freelance child psychologist or bereavement counselor from our network. This consultation is included in the price. It ensures the emotional arc of the book is developmentally sound, says what needs saying, and leaves out what wouldn't help.
We charge no rush premiums for these books, even when time is tight. And if the book should stay private — which is almost always the case — it won't appear in our portfolio, social media, anywhere.
N° 03Investment
Three ways to work together.
Memory coloring book
from $1,800
Simple personalized coloring book with the person or pet as a character on the pages.
- Character of the person/pet
- Up to 16 line-art pages
- Shared memories as scenes
- One printed softcover
- Digital files for siblings
Memory book
from $3,600
Fully illustrated picture book about a specific loss.
- Individual narrative
- Up to 24 interior pages
- Specific memories as illustration
- Child-psychology consultation included
- 2 printed hardcovers
- Unlimited revisions
Family memory book
from $5,800
Comprehensive keepsake for the whole family — often a joint project with siblings.
- Multiple perspectives
- Up to 32 interior pages
- Contributions from all family members
- Extensive psychological consultation
- 5 premium hardcovers
- Optional future expansion
N° 04Questions
The answers we give most often.
- How long does such a book take?
- Longer than our usual projects. We recommend at least 8 to 12 weeks — not because the illustration takes longer, but because the emotional work needs time. We plan pauses between approval steps.
- What if during the work it becomes too much?
- That's allowed. We pause the project at no cost for the remaining parts. If you want to continue in six months or a year, we're here. If not, you receive the illustrations created to that point and you owe us nothing further.
- Can the book be made without the consultation?
- We offer this standard because we consider it important. On explicit request the consultation can be omitted and we reduce the price accordingly. But we're transparent: books without this consultation turn out less well on average. The step makes a difference.
- Does the book appear in your portfolio?
- By default no. Books on this subject stay private — we don't show them publicly, don't share them on social media, don't put them in our portfolio, unless you explicitly wish this. Most families want to keep the book as a private document.
Start your book
We're here when you're ready.
Send us a brief message — just what's needed, nothing that's hard to write. We reply within two working days with space for a first conversation.